| Petra (Jordan) | |
_-_Il_sito_archeologico_02.JPG/250px-Petra_(Giordania)_-_Il_sito_archeologico_02.JPG) | |
Location  | |
| State | Jordan |
|---|---|
| Region | Southern Jordan |
| Surface | 264 km² |
| Institutional website | |
Petra is an archaeological site of the Southern Jordan.
To know
Archaeological site considered among the most important of Middle East. In the past it was the capital of the kingdom of the Nabataeans, as well as a place of incredible beauty and for this reason it became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1985 it was rated in second place among the so-called Seven new wonders of the world.
Petra was rediscovered by Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1812, it was the subject of excavations and studies mainly by Swiss and French expeditions, which still continue to unearth a large number of structures of the ancient city whose exact location is known through surveys carried out with satellites.
Geographical notes
Petra falls under the governorate of Ma'an in the central-southern part of the country e Wadi Musa is the city in the immediate vicinity, while to the north of the site is the Little Petra which integrates the visit to discover this area.
The main entrance to the site is located to the south-east while the main attractions are located on a valley surrounded by mountains. To access it you pass the so-called al-siq, a narrow and deep gorge that then flows into the esplanade of the Treasury. The hill to the right of the siq is called Jabal al-Khubtha, while the one on the left Jabal al-Jilf. Next to the Qasr al-Bint is located Al-Habisfurther south are a series of tombs excavated on Umm al-Bayara in turn part of Jabal al-Barra.
The valley in which the colonnaded street is located is that of Wadi Musa (like the neighboring city), to the south it departs Wadi al-Farasa the hollow that leads to the altar of sacrifice (hence the name of the path).
When to go
| Climate | gen | Feb | mar | apr | mag | down | Jul | needle | set | Oct | nov | dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum (° C) | 11,6 | 12,2 | 14,2 | 18,7 | 23,4 | 27,8 | 29,7 | 29,2 | 26,2 | 21,5 | 16,8 | 13,6 |
| Minimum (° C) | 5,9 | 6,3 | 7,2 | 10,4 | 14,2 | 18,2 | 20,6 | 20,4 | 17,6 | 13,9 | 10,1 | 7,8 |
| Precipitation (mm) | 103 | 84 | 60 | 38 | 25 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 17 | 33 | 83 | 120 |
The most suitable season for a visit is spring (April-May) or autumn, even late; in the summer months the visit becomes almost impossible due to the prohibitive temperatures while in the winter months there is a risk of alluvial rains.
Background
| The Nabataeans |
 A Nabataean inscription in Petra, a Semitic language like Arabic and Hebrew The origin of the Nabataeans is obscure and their history is poorly documented. What is well known is their trade skills, such as to place Petra at the center of the caravan routes from Arabia to the Mediterranean. They knew how to adapt very well to the semi-desert environment in which they lived and showed themselves to be great builders of cisterns and aqueducts. Their temples were consecrated to a polytheistic cult with divinities borrowed from the Greek-Roman pantheon. The culture of the Nabataeans is indebted to the Greco-Roman world also in the field of architecture and art as shown by their temples built in the spirit of Hellenism. |
Petra was the imposing capital of the Nabataean kingdom in the 6th century BC. The kingdom was then absorbed by the advance ofRoman Empire in 106 AD, but it was the Romans themselves who expanded and enriched the city. A series of earthquakes, which took place between the 4th and 6th centuries AD. C., irremediably compromised the irrigation and rainwater collection systems that were the basis of prosperity, stopping their development.
After the conquest of the Middle East by Saladin in 1189, Petra was abandoned and even the memory was lost.
The ruins remained hidden until the Swiss explorer, Johann Ludwig Burckhardtdisguised as an Arab scholar, he infiltrated the city occupied by the Bedouins in 1812. Burckhardt's tales inspired other Western explorers and historians to discover the ancient city. The most famous of these was David Roberts, a Scottish artist who in 1839 created a series of detailed illustrations of the city.
The first real excavations of the site took place only in 1929 after the creation of the British protectorate of Transjordan. Petra later established itself as a major tourist attraction in the Jordan, thanks also to the impact on the audience of the film by Steven Spielberg, Indiana Jones and the last crusade in 1989. Due to the fantastic engineering achievements and the excellent state of conservation, the archaeological site was chosen in July 2007 as one of the new seven wonders of the world.
How to get
By plane
By car
From Amman take Highway 15 southbound, then take the junction to Route 35 towards Wadi Musa / Petra.
From Aqaba, take route 47 north, then take 35 to Petra.
By taxi
Taxi is also a viable option. For JD 75 or less (depending on how much you buy) you may be able to take a private taxi from Amman to Petra and back, including the driver who waits outside for 6 hours.
A taxi from Aqaba to Petra should cost 55 JD one way. However, better read the tips on taxi on the border with Aqaba.
Hire a minibus with a driver from a Del hotel Dead Sea costs around 140 JD one way.
By bus
JETT buses, both ordinary and regular ones all-inclusive, connect Amman is Aqaba through the boring Via regia of Jordan along the desert. Other tourists come via organized groups, including day trips from Eilat, Israel. Also visits to Petra from the Egyptian cities of Taba, Sinai is Sharm el Sheikh are gaining popularity with charter tourism.
It is easy to take the bus from Amman to Petra. It starts from 1 JETT bus station close to Abdali station (leaves at 6:30, with daily trips) and in 3.5 hours you can get to less than 5 minutes from the entrance of Petra. At 5:00 pm the JETT bus leaves to return to Amman. The price is 11 JD for one way (June 2018). The JETT Bus timetables can be consulted here. To get to Amman, you can take a minibus from the central bus station (5.5 JD). There should be one every hour until 2pm or 3pm. JETT also has a daily bus that leaves at 5pm from the parking lot near the visitor center (8 JD).
Buses for Aqaba depart in the morning (~ 07:00) for 5 JD (price for tourists).
For a cheaper trip, a public minibus from Wadi Musa (Petra) a Ma'an is 0.55 JD and from there to Aqaba 1.5 JD. Cheap buses to Amman from Aqaba also pass here.
- Minibus
- 2 Bus terminal, Wadi Musa (near the mosque). Buses to Petra arrive at this terminal.
The cost of the public minibus from Wadi Musa (Petra) to Ma'an (or vice versa) is 0.55 JD and from there to Aqaba (or vice versa) is 1.50 JD. It is important to know that the cost of the ticket for the main route from Wadi Musa to Aqaba or Amman (or vice versa) is often inflated for tourists! When passing through Ma'an, you should be able to pay the local price for the public minibus.
There is a direct minibus that goes from Aqaba for 5 JD, for those passing through Eilat and they don't want to pay the scandalous taxi fare. The problem however is that there is no timetable, it leaves early in the morning (06:45) from Wadi Musa to Aqaba, then returns from Aqaba when it fills up etc. It is always better to ask for tourist information at the border regarding departures.
There are also direct minibuses from Amman, which depart when full for 5 JD. But beware of drivers who overload the price of luggage, sometimes some try to get undue gains. The trip takes about three hours.
The minibus from Wadi Rum costs 7 JD. It takes about 2 hours to get to Petra. Just ask your tour operator or guide to call the bus owner the day before to arrange the exact departure time. The bus usually leaves Wadi Rum at 09:00 in the morning but may be delayed due to the weather or groups arriving.
There is a daily bus to Wadi Musa from Madaba traveling through Jordan's scenic via Regia. This minibus leaves from outside the Mariam Hotel up to Madaba.
Permits / Rates
- 3 Petra Visitor Center (Ticket office), Wadi Musa, ☎ 962 3 215 7093.
50 JOD (1 day), 55 (2 days), 60 (3 days). 90 JOD if you are not staying in Jordan. 
6: 00-17: 00 (winter), 6: 00-18: 00 (summer). Inside the Visitor Center there is a museum that contains 280 artifacts, dating back to different eras. The museum consists of five rooms that show the history of Petra and the main information on the life of the Nabataeans and their civilization.
50 JOD (1 day), 55 (2 days), 60 (3 days). 90 JOD if you are not staying in Jordan. 
6: 00-17: 00 (winter), 6: 00-18: 00 (summer). Inside the Visitor Center there is a museum that contains 280 artifacts, dating back to different eras. The museum consists of five rooms that show the history of Petra and the main information on the life of the Nabataeans and their civilization.The access ticket to the site is perhaps one of the most expensive in the world. If you are just passing through Jordan (i.e. those who arrived from some other country, for example Israel, on the day of the visit and they will return there for the night) the ticket costs 90 JOD, if you stay in Jordan the price drops to JOD 50 for 1 day, 55 for 2 and 60 for 3 days. It is necessary to bring your passport (if you have entered the Jordan in the previous days - and you have not left the country - the entry stamp is sufficient as proof of stay in the country, otherwise it will be better to show the keys and the hotel receipt).
Students pay the full price, except for those enrolled in a Jordanian university, for which the admission price drops sharply. It is not convenient to try to buy tickets from dubious sellers in the city!
Weather permitting, the two-day ticket is the most recommended, as there is plenty to see and walk within Petra. For more than one day the ticket office can request a passport as the ticket is nominative.
The Jordan Pass (purchased online before arriving in Jordan) gives access to over 30 sites and attractions in the country, including Petra, the protected area of Wadi Rum is Jerash. This way the 40 JD regular visa fee is canceled but only if you stay at least four days in the country. (If you leave earlier, you will have to pay the 40 JD at the border when you leave.) There are three different types of passes available, depending on the length of your stay in Petra: 70, 75 or 80 JD for one, two, or three days . For further information it is suggested to read also Jordan # Jordan Pass.
Children under 12 can enter tourist sites for free when accompanied by their parents.
In case you can't or don't want to buy the entrance ticket to Petra, there are two ways. The highway south of Wadi Musa leads to a path leading up to the top of the mountain overlooking the treasury. From here you can take some very nice pictures. It is suggested to use OpenStreetMap, embedded in many mobile apps such as OsmAnd is MAPS.ME, to identify the path or search for GPX files. The other route is located north of Petra and with a 40-minute walk from the connecting road between Wadi Musa and Little Petra you can reach the treasury. This route can be adopted if you want to leave the car on the side of the road, or simply ask a taxi driver to be led to the aforementioned entrance by paying 20 JOD.
How to get around
Petra (Jordan): full screen map.From Wadi Musa to Petra
Many hotels arrange free transportation to and from the Petra entrance. Otherwise you can walk down Tourist Road for about 15 minutes, or take a taxi for 1-2 JD.
Inside Petra
The only modes of transport allowed within Petra are on foot or with animals (camel, donkey or horse). There are 3 routes with 4 possible types of transport:
- From the entrance to the Treasury (on foot or by cart).
- From the Treasury to the stairs of the Monastery (on foot, with donkey or camel).
- Along the 800 stairs of the monastery (on foot or by donkey).
Transport with animals
2/3 to 50. Khazne al-Firaun
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When entering Petra, there is a short hike towards the Siq, to reach which you can take horses, or you can choose to take a horse-drawn cart for a distance of about 0.9 km and get off at the Treasury. The prices for such passes are not fixed and are extremely negotiable, depending on your bargaining skills. But this first walk takes only 15 minutes and is not worth it.
It should be added that animals are often treated poorly so much so that there is a veterinary clinic at the entrance to the site to treat them. It is not uncommon to see injured animals, especially those pulling carts below 37 ° C. The donkeys are then exploited by small groups of young Bedouins who, to encourage them to walk to the monastery, use electric cables to hit them. So if you are able to walk, it's definitely better!
Once you get to the Treasury (and throughout Petra), there will be many camel and donkey owners asking to go up. If you wish, be prepared to bargain to pay no more than 15 JD per hour. There are often times when the owner halves his price by simply listening to a few sentences in Arabic.
Transport with camels could be an option. Riding a camel is a unique experience on flatter terrain, but a donkey is recommended for more ambitious climbs, such as those to the Altar of Sacrifice or the Monastery.
The transport included in the ticket scam: even if the possibility of transport with horse / donkey from the entrance to the Siq included in the price may be indicated on the ticket, this is not strictly true since at the end of the race unjustified sums of money are requested. Some horse and donkey owners actually offer the ride as free, but you can end up paying JD 50 for a two hour ride. In order not to fall into this scam it is better to simply refuse any offer. If you really want to use their service, you must always agree in advance the price for animals, guides and other services, with money only on arrival.
On foot
To visit Petra in peace it is necessary to know the various routes to be faced. They can be followed with the help of the maps made available in various languages at the Visitor Center. However, to follow the secondary paths, especially that of the Wadi al-Farasa it may be useful to use GPS.
If you are reasonably fit and the weather is good, walking in Petra is quite nice. It is preferable to go up the Monastery path before 3:00 pm, otherwise you will find it in the shade. If you are a good hiker, the Petra area including the ascent to the Monastery, the climbing of the tombs to see the treasure from above and even theAltar of Sacrifice they are doable in one day.
There is an unofficial route fromAltar of Sacrifice straight to the time-saving Treasury, but finding it can be a bit tricky. You can try it with OpenStreetMap, which shows the path to the goal. The other path to the treasure it is blocked by a sign and probably also by an attendant. Taking this route you risk going in the direction of the highway.
| First name | Distance | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main path | 8 km | 3.5 / 4 hours | This is the simplest route, from the entrance to the restaurant, but also the most crowded, as it allows you to see the main monuments. |
| Path to the monastery (Ad-Deir) | 2.5 km | 2.5 / 3 hours | From the restaurant you go up towards the monastery facing several stairs. |
| Al-Khubtha route | 3.5 km | 2.5 / 3 hours | You go up near the theater and visit the royal tombs first and then go up to the Jabal al-Khubtha which allows, at the end of the path, to see the treasure from above. |
| Path to the altar of sacrificeor Wadi al Farasa | 3 km | 3.5 / 4 hours | This route allows you to get to the hill where there is the altar of sacrifice, it starts from a flight of stairs from the street of the facades just before the theater to end behind the Qasr al-Bind. |
| Sabra path | 10 km | 6/7 hours | This long route starts from behind Qasr al-Bind and leads south. |
| Jabal Haroun path | 7.5 km | 5/6 hours | The route follows the previous one for the first part and then takes another direction reaching the tomb of Aaron, hence the name of the same. |
What see
| Audio guides |
Guides can be hired from JD 25 and up (depending on what you want to see) at the Visitor Center. Major hotels can hire a portable audio guide Easyguide[link not working] (10 JD / day) with commentary in English, Arabic, French and Spanish. Easyguide is also available as a mobile phone service on all Jordanian mobile phone networks; A map is required to use this service. |
To understand what Petra is, it is best to spend two days. The first day we recommend: Siq - Treasury - City - Monastery. The second day: the Wadi Muthlim, where you can see the Treasury from above Jebel Al-Khubtha and the place of sacrifices. If you enter Petra through Wadi Muthlim do not turn left immediately after the small Siq, first go right to see the aqueduct, the tunnel and the strong Al-Wu'eira and only afterwards it is better to return to the center of Petra. It may not be possible to travel this route due to excess water present along the route. However, it is not advisable to do this route without a guide.
The suggestion of many hoteliers to visit Petra is to go there when it opens, which is at 6:00 am in order to avoid tourist groups. In reality, this suggestion is especially valid in warm periods, in order to enjoy a greater number of hours of cool. In all other periods, the problem of crowds becomes relative, given that you will still be inside the site during the busiest times of the day. In addition, the large size of the site determines a large distribution of people. What is important to make the visit worthwhile is to make the most of the travel time and limit downtime, such as lunch at the restaurant. Finally, it is a special experience to leave the site at sunset, when the crowds of tourists have also left. In fact, the site remains open even beyond the set times, to allow everyone to go out.
The whole site of Petra, obtained by digging into the rock, is surrounded by a fairytale atmosphere; the warm hue of the rock that takes on different shades with the varying intensity of the light during the day helps to make the landscape magical. Based on this observation Petra has been nicknamed the "Pink City".
Main path
- 1 Houses of the «Djinn» (Immediately after entry). Built in the 1st century AD, their function is unknown, but presumably they were tombs or funerary monuments, or even places of worship of water and fertility deities.
- 2 Tomb of the Obelisk (Bab as siq triclinium). The building, from the 1st century AD, is a funerary monument which in the center represents an anthropomorphic figure, today eroded by the elements, surrounded by four obelisks, which together represent the five people buried in the tomb. The tomb was built on a much older structure, with a facade decorated with Doric columns, which is known as the triclinium or dining room, and is one of several buildings of this type where banquets were held every year to commemorate the deceased.
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- 3 Siq (السيق). The entrance to Petra is a long and winding sandstone canyon (about 2 km). There are small carvings here and there throughout the Siq, but the most impressive sights are the colorful and unusual sandstone motifs in the rock faces. Also visible are the remains of terracotta pipes built along the sides of the canyon that were used in Roman times to transport water.
4 El Khasneh (Treasure of the Pharaoh). After having crossed the long and narrow gorge among the rocks with an incredible predominant pink color, black, green and brown stratifications are also visible, the result of the oxidation of numerous materials that compose them. At the end of the Siq, an unexpected and imposing open space appears in front of al-Khaznah or the Treasure of the Pharaoh, the most prestigious monument in the city, and certainly the best known and most publicized. Excavated in the pink sandstone which makes it particularly impressive, this funerary temple is of considerable size. 40 meters high and 28 meters wide, it dominates the entrance square to the city with the harmony of its Hellenistic forms.
- Dated according to some scholars to 117-138 AD. (reign of the Roman emperor Hadrian), for others it should be placed in a period prior to the Roman conquest, even to the period of the reign of Aretas III (84-61 BC).
- In the upper part there is the so-called urn of the Treasury, and according to a legend it is said to contain the hidden treasure of the Pharaoh. For this reason it bears the marks of the bullets with which Bedouin travelers over the years have tested this theory.
- The time of day when the sun arrives on the facade is mid-morning because otherwise it will always be in the shade, being inside a canyon.
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- 5 Street of facades (External Siq) (After the Siq). A large canyon lined with more than forty tombs and houses built with a style reminiscent of Assyrian architecture. Of these tombs, one of them has the characteristic of having a mortuary on the upper floor, while a second is not carved into the rock, but is surmounted by a structure similar to a ziggurat.
- 6 Petra Theater (At the end of the street of the facades). Built by the Nabataeans over 2000 years ago, it was carved out of the rock where previously there were tombs that were destroyed in the construction. Originally the auditorium could hold 3,000 people spread over 45 rows; the area for the orchestra had been dug out of the rock while the scene, of which few finds remain, had been built and included three orders of niches. After the Roman conquest of 106, the theater was enlarged and brought to accommodate about 8,000 spectators, about 30% of the inhabitants of the city, with the consequent demolition of other tombs. After being damaged by an earthquake in 363, some elements of the theater itself were reused to build houses and churches. It is still used today for occasional shows.
- 7 Nymphaeum. A public fountain dedicated to the nymphs, built in the 2nd century, perhaps intended to collect the waters from the Siq. Little remains of the fountain, only a gigantic pistachio tree and a few aligned stones allow us to identify the site of the nymphaeum.
- 8 Colonnaded street (Thistle maximum). The central street of Petra was built, after the Roman conquest of 106 on an old Nabatean road and constitutes, according to the Roman urban model, the decumanus maximus, but the cardo is missing in a perpendicular direction. The street was 6 meters wide, bordered by imposing sandstone columns covered with marble, and on both sides the arcades that gave access to the shops overlooked.
- 9 Byzantine church. The building was built by the Nabataeans, then remodeled and enlarged by the Byzantines around 530 and for this reason also called the Byzantine church. The church has some mosaic floors, precisely from the Byzantine era, very well preserved, most likely the walls were also covered with splendid mosaics.
- 10 Great temple. This temple, dedicated to the cult of the Nabataean deities, was built in the 1st century BC. and although it had been damaged by an earthquake it was used until the late Byzantine period. The temple is accessed via a ramp that leads to the monumental propylaea arcades and after a second ramp you arrive at the lower sacred courtyard (temenos), bordered to the east and west by a triple colonnade. The upper level of the complex housed the sacred enclosure of the temple. The building was originally 18 meters high and the sacred enclosure measured 40 by 28 meters.
- 11 Trajan's Gate (Gate of the Temenos). The gate marked the passage from the commercial area of the city to the area destined for the cult of Qasr al-Bint. The door, with three arches, with huge wooden doors and side towers was built in the 2nd century and was covered with friezes with floral decorations and armed figures.
- 12 Temple of the winged lions. It takes its name from the lions that once surmounted the capitals of each column. Built in 27 BC, it was dedicated to the fertility goddess Atargatis, wife of the most important Nabataean god, Dushara. From the finds found to date it appears that both the temple and the entrance were decorated.
- 13 Qasr al-Bint (Qasr al-Bint Firaun). Erected by the Nabataeans, for the cult of one of the deities, around 30 BC, after the occupation it was adapted to the cult of the Roman emperors and was finally destroyed in the third century. The full name of the temple is Qasr al-Bint al-Pharaun, "castle of the Pharaoh's daughter" and was given to him by the Bedouins. Originally the temple was 23 meters high and had marble stairways, imposing columns with capitals with floral decorations. The Adyton, or Sancta sanctorum of the temple perhaps contained a simulacrum of the divinity. This was the main place of worship in the Nabataean city.
Path to the monastery
- 14 Triclinum of the lions. This tomb takes its name from the lions carved in bas-relief on the outside. The tomb can be reached via a narrow path that diverges for a few meters from the path towards the monastery.
- 15 Monastery (Al Deir). Petra's largest sculpted monument dates back to the 1st century BC. The interior, like that of the Treasury, is bare compared to the facade. Built by the Nabataeans between the 2nd and 1st centuries BC. and intended as the tomb of King Obodas I († 85 BC), the monastery owes its name to the fact that several crosses carved during the Byzantine period have been found in its interior. The courtyard in front of the monastery was surrounded by columns and was used for sacred ceremonies.
- To get there you have to climb over 800 steps. The route can last an hour, and even if you take a donkey you will then have to walk and climb for about 10 minutes towards the goal. This is the last monument in sequence for those following the main route.
- 16 Tomb 468 (In front of the Monastery and under the viewpoint). This tomb carved into the rock has the only particularity of having a niche in the back wall with a beautiful example of decorative relief.
Al-Khubtha route
In front of the Roman theater there are several tombs whose name derives from the fact that they are quite large in scale compared to the other tombs in the area, but it is not clear for whom they were originally built.
- 17 Tomb of the Palace. In imitation of a three-story Roman or Hellenistic palace. The upper left part of the palace was built instead of excavated, because the rock wall was not sufficiently extended. The burial chambers are very simple.
- 18 Corinthian tomb. Hybrid style tomb. The lower part is a portico of clear Nabataean inspiration, while the decorative elements of the upper level are influenced by Hellenistic art, which has Corinthian capitals that give the tomb its name.
- 19 Tomb of Silk. This tomb features extraordinary veins of the rock, both pink and white and yellow.
- 20 Tomb of the urn. Built in the second half of the 1st century AD, for King Aretas IV († 40 AD) or for his son, Malichus II († 70 AD), it has a huge terrace and a majestic Doric portico, carved into the rock. in 447 it was transformed into a cathedral and in the Byzantine period the double order of vaults was added.
- 21 Tomb of Sesto Fiorentino. Built from 126 to 130 AD, for a Roman governor of Arabia, whose exploits are celebrated by the inscription above the entrance. Inside, the tomb contains eight niches, five excavated in the back wall and three in the right wall.
Path to the altar of sacrificeor Wadi al Farasa
- 22 The two obelisks. A short distance from the altar of sacrifice there are two stone obelisks that rise on the top of the mountain.
- 23 Height of sacrifice (al-Madbah). The site is at the top of the mountain and contains elaborate rock altars used for sacrifices that the Nabataeans leveled to obtain a platform, with drains to drain the blood of the sacrificed animals. The entrance is bordered by two obelisks, over 6 meters high, not raised but dug into the rock. In the center there is the circular altar, next to the stone basins containing the water for washing and purification.
- From the height, you can see a large part of Petra with a beautiful panorama. But it can get cold and windy up there. The trek along the back side of the mountain reveals many interesting tombs and sculptures that could be missed by the average tourist. The round trip generally takes 1.5-2.5 hours. Not many people cross the return route as it is not always clear where it starts, it is better to follow other tourists or use OpenStreetMap to identify the path. You could even try to use the direct path to the Treasury which is even more difficult to find and unofficial, the stairs are clearly visible from the bottom of the Treasury.
- 24 Tomb of the Renaissance (قبر عصر النهضة). It is an elegant facade with a complex of crowns and six Nabataean vases, there is also a tympanum which has three funerary urns at the corners framed by pillars. Inside there are niches dug into the rock which were not used for burials; the tomb could be dated to the 2nd century AD.
- 25 Triclinium. Questa tomba dall'esterno non mostra alcuna particolarità, mentre all'interno possiede delle eleganti colonne con delle nicchie che sembrano richiamare ad uno stile rinascimentale italiano.
- 26 Tomba del soldato romano (ضريح الجندي الروماني). Recenti evidenze archeologiche hanno indicato che questa facciata ben proporzionata faceva probabilmente parte di un complesso che includeva di fronte a sé un'interessante visione dell'architettura nabatea, la tomba era accessibile attraverso un ampio cortile con portici e due edifici storici su entrambi i lati e un triclinium di fronte all'ingresso. È decorata con pilastri e colonne che incorniciano tre nicchie con la statua di un ufficiale militare nella nicchia centrale, da cui il nome della tomba.
- Gli scavi hanno dimostrato che il cortile fu costruito nel periodo nabateo intorno alla seconda metà del I secolo d. C. ma fu rimaneggiato nel periodo romano (200 d.C.).
- 27 Tempio del giardino (Vicino la Tomba del Soldato Romano). La funzione di questa struttura è ancora incerta e il termine può essere fuorviante, poiché non ci sono nicchie di sepoltura. Sembra più probabile che possa essere stato parte del sistema idrico nabateo, in quanto alla destra c'è un immenso muro di contenimento che crea un serbatoio naturale d'acqua. Pertanto potrebbe essere stato usato per fornire acqua per i rituali, o per fornirla alla località.
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- 28 Monumento del leone. Bassorilievo del leone abbastanza eroso dal tempo ma che trasmette un gran senso di monumentalità.
Percorso Jabal Haroun
- 29 Tomba di Aronne (Jabal Haroun). Questo è il picco più alto dell'area. In cima si trova una piccola chiesa e la tomba di Aronne, fratello di Mosè. Il percorso verso l'alto e il ritorno fa impiegare 4-8 ore a seconda del sentiero scelto e porta verso zone poco battute dai turisti.
What to do
Ci sono una serie di escursioni popolari intorno a Petra. La maggior parte delle escursioni dura circa 1-3 ore andata e ritorno.
- 1 Veduta sul deserto (oltre il monastero). Se si segue il sentiero oltre il Monastero, si raggiunge un campo beduino che offre tè e oggetti da vendere nonché una splendida vista del deserto ad ovest.
- 2 Il tesoro dall'alto. Subito dopo l'ultima tomba a lato delle Tombe Reali, si sale su una scala che dà a una bella vista della zona di Petra. Alla fine di questo sentiero c'è un campo che offre un'ottima vista dall'alto del Tesoro, basta sedersi e consumare una bibita.
Una seconda possibilità è quella di accedervi dal alto opposto rispetto al Siq, la salita è offerta dai vari venditori posti sullo spiazzale del Tesoro che con 15 JOD vi condurranno al punto di osservazione.
- Petra di notte. 17 JOD. Lun, Mer, Giov dalle 20:30. Si possono ordinare i biglietti in hotel. Si tratta di una visita con candele, dove ascoltare una breve musica beduina mentre viene servito del tè in bicchieri di plastica seduti su delle stuoie di fronte al Tesoro. È meglio effettuare la visita notturna prima di vedere Petra di giorno, poiché diventa molto meno impressionante se si è già andati al Tesoro durante il giorno. Non è sorprendente, ma è qualcosa di carino da fare durante la notte. Tuttavia, ci sono recensioni davvero contrastanti su questa attività.
- Clinica Principessa Alia (Ospedale per animali) (Appena all'entrata del parco.). Come si può notare a Petra non tutti gli asini, i cavalli e i cammelli sono trattati correttamente. Alcuni sono oberati di lavoro, trasportano turisti in sovrappeso o sono eccessivamente frustati. L'associazione benefica Brooke educa i proprietari sul trattamento degli animali da lavoro equestri e cura gratuitamente gli animali. La clinica è felice di informare in merito alle condizioni in cui lavorano animali in Giordania. Si può fare anche una donazione.
Shopping
In tutta Petra, i venditori offriranno bottiglie di sabbia decorativa (quelle piccole circa 1 JD, quelle più grandi fino a 6 JD). Anche se possono sembrare simili ad altri souvenir trovati in altre località giordane, queste sono uniche in quanto la sabbia utilizzata per creare gli artefatti è colorata naturalmente e raschiata dalle pareti rocciose dei vari canyon di Petra. Il soggetto più comune mostra la sagoma di un cammello su uno sfondo desertico. Alcuni artisti possono scrivere un nome all'interno della bottiglia di sabbia in un tempo sorprendentemente breve.
I braccialetti, le collane e gli anelli sono venduti di frequente dai venditori che girano e presentano i loro prodotti. Le offerte variano molto nel prezzo e spesso i venditori affermano che essi siano fatti di argento, anche se non lo sono (1-5 JD è un prezzo equo per la maggior parte delle merci offerte).
C'è un utile mercato di frutta e verdura vicino alla stazione dei minibus a Wadi Musa.
I souvenir a Petra e Wadi Musa spesso costano il doppio o il triplo del prezzo richiesto nel resto della Giordania. Quindi, se si visita anche il resto della Giordania, conviene fare gli acquisti altrove.
Commercio illegale di reperti: I commercianti beduini intorno all'area mostreranno presunte monete "antiche" di epoca romana o nabatea, di dimensioni piuttosto grandi. Se si insiste potrebbero mostrarne molte altre di varie dimensioni e magari anche autentiche. Tuttavia l'acquisto di queste monete incoraggia il saccheggio illegale dei siti archeologici. Per fornire un souvenir, gli abitanti locali distruggono tombe e edifici alle ricerca di monete e altre antichità. La legge sulle antichità del 1988 afferma che le persone che intraprendono scavi e/o commerci illeciti di antichità sono considerati dei criminali.
Where to eat
Per gli snack e le bevande calde e fredde, ci sono piccoli negozi e venditori sparsi per Petra. Tuttavia si consiglia di portare con sé del cibo evitando di sprecare molto più tempo e soldi al ristorante.
L'ombra è scarsa a Petra e in una calda giornata estiva ci si può aspettare di usare almeno 4 litri d'acqua (o di più se ci si può permettere di portarla). Il bisogno di acqua nei mesi invernali è molto minore. Le bottiglie da 1,5 litri costano 0,5 JD.
C'è acqua corrente nei bagni di Petra in tutto il sito ma non conviene berla.
- 1 Ristorante Crown Plaza Basin, Colonnaded St (Accanto al Museo di Petra, al termine della strada romana). C'è solo questo ristorante in tutto il sito di Petra. Fa grandi affari nonostante i prezzi elevati, e ha anche il monopolio sulla birra.
Where stay
Attorno al sito archeologico dell'antica Petra proliferano numerose strutture alberghiere che garantiscono accoglienza ai numerosissimi turisti che affollano l'area. Per informazioni basta andare alla voce Wadi Musa
Safety
Come per ogni viaggio si consiglia di comunicare dove siamo diretti al sito della Farnesina e di interfacciarsi con le autorità competenti.
Presso il ristorante si trova un punto di primo soccorso (First aid clinic).
I mesi più freddi e piovosi per visitare Petra sono dicembre e gennaio. In questo periodo è caldo durante il giorno e molto freddo la sera e la notte. Ecco perché è necessario portare cappotti, cappelli e guanti. Potrebbe essere utile anche portare un thermos con te caldo. Meglio evitare di andare se le previsioni mostrano molta pioggia, poiché le guardie potrebbero dover fare uscire i turisti se la valle inizia ad allagarsi.
L'aria calda e secca a volte causa emorragie nasali. Si può consigliare di portare vaselina o prodotti a base di vaselina come Vicks da applicare all'interno delle narici per evitare le epistassi. Inoltre portare un sacco di acqua e prodotti per la reidratazione orale se la si visita nei caldi mesi estivi. Un buon berretto e occhiali da sole aiuteranno a evitare colpi di calore e scottature.
Il sito non garantisce una vera sicurezza per i turisti dato che non vi sono barriere anticaduta nei monumenti e le scale sono prive di corrimano. Bisogna sempre stare attenti a non cadere da un punto panoramico, non esistendo alcuna cartellonistica di pericolo. Tutto è lasciato al buonsenso del turista che non sempre è tale. In certi percorsi in salita c'è il rischio di scivolare, i gradini non sono sempre regolari e spesso consumati, inoltre gli strapiombi sono sempre dietro l'angolo.
Considerando l'impegno fisico e il rischio di caduta in alcuni punti si può dire che il sito non è molto indicato per i bambini, salvo non si mantenga uno stretto controllo (a proprio rischio) o la visita venga effettuata solo lungo il percorso principale.
How to keep in touch
Telephony
All'interno del sito il segnale telefonico è generalmente buono, salvo nelle aree più isolate.
Internet
Nelle varie aree di sosta del sito (presso il ristorante, al teatro, al Tesoro ecc.) è presente il WIFI con utilizzo previa registrazione gratuita. Nella mappa di Petra sono indicati i diversi punti in cui è possibile utilizzarlo.
Around
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- Piccola Petra - una versione ridotta di Petra, è accessibile in taxi o da Petra stessa. È meno visitata rispetto al sito principale e vale la pena solo se si passa più di un giorno a Wadi Musa. Il costo approssimativo per una corsa in taxi da e per il sito, compreso il fatto che il conducente resta in attesa circa un'ora, è di circa 15 JD. C'è anche almeno un minibus che parte dalla stazione degli autobus (centro città) verso le 12:00. Prezzo: gratuito.
- Wadi Rum - Una splendida valle desertica nel sud della Giordania, si trova a circa un'ora a sud di Petra. Gli autobus partono la mattina (~ 06:30) e generalmente costano 5 JD. In taxi per 25-30 JD.
- Riserva della biosfera di Dana - Si può soggiornare in un villaggio locale all'interno della Riserva Naturale e godere di escursioni indimenticabili in una propaggine della Grande Rift.
- 4 Castello Shoubak (Al-Shobak/Shawbak oppure Montreal) (A sud di Kerak e della riserva di Dana, dall'autostrada (stazione di rifornimento) è un'escursione diretta di 20 minuti (non lungo la strada)). 1 JOD. È su una collina con viste spettacolari e un'ottima sosta spostandosi a sud verso Petra. La maggior parte del castello è un cumulo di macerie, ma ci sono ambienti sotterranei da esplorare, inclusa la scala (attraverso una porta metallica che dovrebbe essere aperta) che scende di 375 gradini verso i vecchi pozzi. Conviene avere una torcia. Lungo una strada laterale al castello, si può trovare 1 l'hotel più piccolo del mondo con un prezzo elevato di 25 JOD, ma forse può essere ridotto a 15 JOD, considerando che c'è solo spazio per una persona. Proprio vicino il proprietario ha anche camere regolari offrendo cena e colazione.
- Kerak - Sito di un antico castello dei crociati.
- Wadi Mujib - Una grande riserva naturale famosa per i suoi imponenti canyon. Accesso limitato in inverno.
- Madaba - Conosciuta come la "Città dei Mosaici" per i suoi mosaici bizantini e omayyadi, in particolare una grande mappa a mosaico della Palestina di epoca bizantina e il delta del Nilo nella chiesa di San Giorgio.
- Mar Morto - Il punto più basso sulla terra e il mare più salino.
La maggior parte degli hotel economici organizza tour, ma il livello di organizzazione cambia molto e potrebbero crearsi degli inconvenienti o inutili attese. Meglio formare un gruppo di almeno 4 persone chiedendo al Valentine Inn. Un tour di esempio potrebbe essere il viaggio lungo la via reale: il castello di Shoubak, la riserva naturale di Dana, il Tafilah, il castello di Karak, il Mar Morto, il monte Nebo, Madaba e le chiese e Amman per circa 30 JD.
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